Introduction:

dexmedetomidine is and useful adjuvant agent in the perioperative anesthetic management associated to nasal administration with minimum adverse effects.

Material and methods:

a randomized, controlled, double blind, clinical trial was carried out in elective patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy with general anesthesia. Aim of this study was to compare the postoperative analgesic effect through visual analogue scale (VAS) and the perioperative opioid consumption. Dexmedetomidine was administrated intranasally (1 μg/kg dose) versus placebo. Statistical analysis was realized through student t and Fisher Test.

Results:

54 patients were randomized in two groups: dexmedetomidine vs control. Not significant differences were found between both groups in demographic variables but 81.5% were women. Mean of VAS score at 60 minutes was significantly inferior (2.89 ± 1.9) versus control group (5.78 ± 2.3) (p ˂ 0.0001). Mean of opioids consumption in dexmedetomidine group (0.424 ± 0.074 μg/h) was significant minor of control group (0.697 ± 0.136 μg/h) (p ˂ 0.0001). Size effect through Cohen test was 250%.

Conclusion:

statistically decrease in VAS and in opioid consumption was observed using dexmedetomidine nasally in laparoscopic cholecystectomy.